Village of Catskill business incubator opens

CATSKILL, N.Y. -- The Catskill Local Development Corp.'s effort to fill vacant storefronts on Main Street through reduced rents has gotten its first tenants through its Project 90 program.

At a Village Board meeting Monday, board President Vincent Seeley said the first tenant moved into the corporation's space at 396 Main St. on Dec. 1.

"We took an inventory of all of the vacant storefronts and thought of a plan on how to get those filled," Seeley said. "The idea was to create an incubator for small businesses. So for 90 days we would enter into an agreement with the landlord where the rent would be $500 a month where the rent would ordinarily be $900 or $650 a month."

The amount of rent charged for the space will depend on needs of the specific business.

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"It's at the LDC's discretion to figure out," Seeley said. "There may be a business that comes down the line that we look at and say they have a really good product, they have a lot of potential, and they might be low on capital right now. We could charge them $100. Another business might come in and have a different product that doesn't fit so well and we'll charge $200."

Seeley said the corporation has put $10,000 toward the program, which includes providing business services.

"We'll give them WiFi access and all the amenities that an incubator would give a business; we'll help them negotiate a reduced rate with the landlord at a location on Main Street; and then they're off on their own and the next applicant comes in," he said.

Seeley noted the corporation's space contains about 700 square feet, which is big enough for two businesses and at least one artistic venture.

"There's wall space, so we have a photographer who's going to sell his stuff on the wall," he said.

Property owners with vacant space can also have their buildings renovated to meet the needs of new tenants.

"Some of these places need a lot of work, so we're saying we'll do the work," Seeley said. "Either we, the LDC could hire a carpenter to come in and do it, or the applicant might decide ... to go in and retrofit the place."